Sekvantoj

Tuesday, 3 June 2008

Gaelscoil na Daroige

Education Minister Caitriona Ruane has been accused of "showing her true colours" by funding a small Irish language school, against advice, when similar schools nearby have struggled to fill all their places.

It has emerged that she rejected her senior officials' advice in approving a new Irish language school in Londonderry.

The school she approved was just 2.5 miles from another Irish language school which, in the view of the Department of Education's inspectors, was already "in sharp decline" and had 106 empty desks.

And documents released to a newspaper under the Freedom of Information Act show that last year Ms Ruane went against the wishes of the local Catholic primary school in approving funding for the school.

The school – Gaelscoil na Daroige in the Ballymagroarty area – has not actually received any funding yet as it does not have the minimum 15 P1 pupils required under legislation to receive it....

...Education committee chairman Sammy Wilson said the latest revelation was evidence of the minister trying to "impose a republican agenda".

"Ruane is yet again showing her, and her party's, true colours," he said.

"The old Sinn Fein mantra of 'building an Ireland of equals' is being shown as completely false and hypocritical."...